A $1.5 trillion defense budget proposal from the Pentagon is in jeopardy following the midterm elections, as Democratic gains in Congress raise questions about its viability. The budget, which includes a $1.15 trillion base budget and a $350 billion reconciliation bill, was designed to pass with Republican support alone. Additionally, a $87 billion supplemental package—announced in June—includes $67 billion for the war in Iran, further complicating its prospects.
The House Armed Services Committee, set to be led by Democrats in January, has signaled plans for intensive oversight of the Pentagon and the Trump administration. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking member of the committee, stated in a Nov. 4 announcement that investigations would focus on military operations in Latin America, contracts with arms manufacturers, and the war in Iran.
Smith emphasized that the committee’s priorities would include examining potential waste, fraud, or abuse in defense spending, as well as scrutinizing alleged favoritism in contracts. He also criticized Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s efforts to reshape military leadership, describing them as a “purging of the ranks based on loyalty and ideology.”
The $1.5 trillion defense budget has drawn particular scrutiny from Smith, who argued that military spending should not come at the expense of domestic programs. He stated that the U.S. must rescope its national security goals to align with broader policy priorities. Smith’s remarks follow reports that Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who opposed the war in Iran, lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger.
The budget’s future remains uncertain as lawmakers prepare to reconvene in January, when the new Congress will determine its path forward.